Oh my goodness, I didn't abandon this story I swear, I take on too many things to write. I had this chapter lying around for awhile and finally got in gear and fixed it up to post. The many kind reviews really keep me moving guys, thank you!

Final Partition
The Invisible

Lithuania was welcomed back into the cold room with a pillow hurled at his face.

He blinked in surprise, "Hey, Poland, I know you're mad, but…"

When he actually got a look at Poland he quickly realized the country wasn't just mad, he was very furious. He was on his feet, breathing heavy and gritting his teeth, accusing Lithuania of many things with just one stare. Lithuania readjusted the armful of blankets and things he held. He should have expected such a response.

What he didn't expect was for the sickly Poland to start walking to the door, with the hand not in a sling curled into a fist. Lithuania dropped everything in his arms and scrambled to block the blonde's path.

"Where are you going?" he gasped.

Poland's stare was serious, though more glazed, "Russia." He said.

Lithuania balked, "What?"

"He…he's totally not getting away with this."

Poland took another step, but Lithuania appeared in his path again.

"Poland, you don't know what you're talking about, just look at you. You can't go and fight Russia!"

"You're crazy, Liet." Poland scoffed, "I already have."

Lithuania struggled for the right words. He didn't want Poland anywhere near Russia, ever, but how could he say that to the tenacious blonde? How could he get the country to do anything he shouldn't? Poland took another step. Lithuania struggled for the right words, but desperation weighed on him and he yelled, "You… you lost, Feliks!"

A heavy silence pressed on them as those words faded. 'Lost', just like that the word became real and it seemed to have hit Poland harder than ever. Such a word he'd never uttered and never listened to, until his best friend said it. Lithuania figured Poland would punch him now. He was very serious, shaking with it, and so very mad. Never had they been torn apart like this, he didn't like it.

"Please…" Lithuania averted his eyes, "just go sit, Poland, please, you're not…"

Poland's eyebrows were raised, head cocked, "Why are you in my way, Liet?"

Had he ever stood against Poland? He'd told the other thousands of times 'no, you shouldn't do that' or 'maybe that's not a good idea', but those had always been said at his side, never in his path. There were only countless times of standing side by side while in battle, while laughing, while talking nonsense. Seeing the Poles fury directed straight at him was unnerving and he didn't know how to handle it.

"Poland, I…"

"Whatever, Liet."

Poland brushed past him, with a nudge on his shoulder. Lithuania felt the small gesture like a slap in the face. He still made to grab Poland back, but the other country swayed to the side and out of his reach. His head drooped and his feet failed him. Lithuania startled and ran, catching the country just as he tripped.

"Poland." Lithuania struggled to breath past his pounding heart. He eyed him and was surprised to see him turning red with embarrassment.

"It's…its okay." He reassured, "You just need to eat something. Here sit, I brought Bliney (1)!"

He settled the unresisting country against the side of the bed and hurried to grab the plate from the top of the pile he'd brought, settling himself on the floor. Poland watched his every move with scrutinizing eyes.

"Here, I can feed you." Lithuania grinned and waved the fork.

Poland clamped his mouth.

Lithuania frowned, "Come on now don't be like that… oh, I know! Would it help if I told you that this food was meant for Russia?"

Poland's mouth dropped open. Lithuania shook his head as he cut up pieces of the food and gave a small bite to him. Poland chewed, though stubbornly, and when Lithuania brought the fork up again Poland took it away from him with his bandaged right hand.

"I don't, like, need you to do it." he muttered sourly, stabbing another piece from the place in Lithuania's lap.

Lithuania was left to watch as Poland's hand shook while he ate; getting out of breath and worn out before he had even finished the second piece. He didn't meet Lithuania's eyes the entire time.

"Poland," Lithuania sighed, "don't be mad at me, prosze (2)."

Poland's eyes shot up to his. Lithuania figured a long winded comment was about to come, but instead Poland's face softened and he lifted the fork, placing a piece of food into Lithuania's mouth.

"You're so not cute right now." He said with a grin, "You look way worse than I feel."

Lithuania smiled and ran a hand through his untamed hair, wanting to comment back on how, unlike Poland, his appearance was last on his list of worries. Poland's grin turned into a smirk, breaking the moment by trying to forcibly get more food into Lithuania's mouth, getting more enjoyment out of it than he should have. In Lithuania's struggle to make sure the fork didn't end up in his eye Poland found the chore list sticking out of his pocket and snatched it.

"What's this?" he said, squinting at the Russian writing.

"Oh," Lithuania said, grabbing the fork from Poland, "that's all the chores I have to do today for Mr. Russia… I should really be starting on those actually…."

"You have to do all of this?" Poland exclaimed.

Lithuania grabbed the list, "Yes, do you not understand the situation we're in, Feliks?"

"Is that a chess board?"

Of course he didn't…

Lithuania groaned, "…I forgot I brought that."

Poland beamed at him, "Let's play, Liet."

And how was he supposed to resist that face?

Poland was practically bouncing up and down while he set the board and pieces on the floor. But, unexpectedly, all of the fun of the game left soon after they started playing.

Lithuania watched him very carefully. Poland was up to something. He was losing horribly in their chess game even when Lithuania had resorted to deliberately risking his own pieces. Poland now had nothing left but his king, with Lithuania's king, a rook, and a bishop surrounding it. Lithuania wondered if he would even notice if he began to move one of his pieces backwards at that point. Usually, the Polish rule would be in full force right then, but instead the blonde had his chin resting on his hand, staring at the three pieces, thinking over his next move.

In fact, he'd been like that for awhile now.

"Um, Poland?"

Poland's head popped up, as if pulled from deep thoughts, but all traces left right after. Lithuania convinced himself it had been his imagination. He really shouldn't have been so surprised at Poland's next move. He simply flicked each one of his pieces over, pausing just a moment before he knocked down the king last.

"There," he said haughtily, "I win."

Lithuania shook his head and smiled, "Yeah, you did. Didn't you?"

The door creaked open and Estonia appeared, peering cautiously around the door frame.

"Um, Lithuania…" he stuttered, "You do remember what…Mr. Russia wanted and that we're…supposed to, um, stay with you and uh…"

"Oh, right." Lithuania scrambled to his feet, "I almost forgot."

He was heading for the door, but a tight grip on his wrist stopped him. He turned to see Poland with his jaw tightly set.

"Liet," he demanded, "prasau (3)."

It was a very scary, very terrifying, very nerve wracking thing to see Poland lounged out on one of Russia's divans and eating a portion of his stash of snacks; that Poland had sniffed out faster than Lithuania could stop him, like he had taken over the entire mansion for himself. As if he was waiting for the title and keys to be presented to him with a parade and everything. The faraway look on his face said he was imagining Warsaw as the new Moscow.

Lithuania waved the coat he was busy sewing in Poland's face.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Poland answered innocently, relaxing more into the cushions, "You know I so like this place. Too bad it's owned by big, cold, and creepy, he needs some tips on color, though."

Lithuania rolled his eyes.

"Mr…Russia, isn't going to… like this." Latvia shook from where he was wiping the floor, "Won't he…be so, so mad if he sees Mr. Poland out here?"

"I'm kind of regretting having a part in this." Estonia gulped.

Poland looked to the two and went red. Lithuania started to tell them not to worry, that he wouldn't have any trouble befall his brother countries if he was the cause, but Poland shyly blurted out, "Liet, like who are these two?"

Lithuania paused and blinked, "It's Latvia and Estonia, Feliks. They lived with us for a short time, don't you remember?"

"Oh, yeah…" Poland's embarrassment left and was replaced with a sneer towards Latvia, "I remember you! You were totally my foot stool!"

Lithuania debated on asking Poland to behave, but couldn't because the other country was laughing at his own comment and the sound was a breath of fresh air at the moment. It didn't stay that way though, when Poland's laugh turned into a cough. He quickly scooted to Poland's side.

"Feliks. Are you okay?"

Poland stopped as fast as he had started and waved him off, "I'm fine, Liet."

Lithuania didn't like that answer. He wanted Poland to talk to him like he used to, endless and endless rambling about every little problem and concern he had, about all he wanted or needed.

"Feliks, please tell me…"

Latvia suddenly cried, "Oh, no."

Lithuania startled. Slowly, he looked up and saw that Latvia was staring, horrified, at the door. He listened and heard the cause of the worry. The front door, in the next room, was opening and soon it was slammed shut. The sound pounded in his ears a thousand times over.

"Oh, no…Mr. Ru…Russia back."

He grabbed Poland to take him away, but Poland tried to shove past him.

"Feliks," he shrieked, "What are you doing?"

Poland still wasn't budging and fought against his hold. Lithuania was in a panic trying to shove him back and not cause him anymore harm, but Russia would cause so much more. He was near having to fight him to get him to move.

"Feliks, please." He begged and pleaded, "Please, stop."

The door opened and a chill filled the room. Lithuania knew who was there already and he would remain where he was, in between the two, no matter what happened. So, he stood there, unmoving, holding on to Poland with shaking hands.

When Russia did appear at his side Lithuania braced for the worst. But, it seemed Russia would have kept walking, if it had not been for Poland, who got free from his hold and planted himself right in front of the larger country, stopping him in his tracks.

Lithuania chest constricted at the scene.

That was it. It was over. His friend was about to really be wiped clean from the world and he would have to watch, following soon after, at his side. But, it never came. Russia ignored Poland, who was sneering up at him inches from his face, and instead reached out to take a hold of Lithuania's arm. He stepped around Poland, towing a stunned Lithuania behind him.

Poland turned in shock, "Liet!"

Lithuania twisted around, but Poland had already launched himself at Russia. But, all he had to do was grab Poland's wrist to subdue him and the small blonde could do no more. They ended up getting pulled all the way to Lithuania's room, where only he was tossed inside. He caught himself and turned, seeing Poland's terror filled eyes.

"Mr. Russia!" he tried.

"Be a good boy, Toris." Was all he said.

The door was closed and the lock twisted in place.

In case anyone's curious here's a history note on Poland and the Baltics relationship before the Swedish wars (Himaruya has touched on it in a couple strips): After the Livonian war in 1583 Estonia and Latvia were put under the commonwealth's rule until after the Polish-Swedish war in 1629 when Sweden gained partial custody.

And someone I need to comment back to:

Morinohito: Ah, I'm so sorry about the language mistakes. I know nothing of the language, though I really want to learn. All the phrases are being taken from a website translator, which are insanely unreliable I know lol. But, thank you, I've fixed it and help me if I mess up anymore!

A pancake type meal from Russia.

'Please' in Polish.

'Please' in Lithuanian.

(The pleases were meant to be spoken in the others native tongue :P)